JP7084987B2 - 3D printheads for use within 3D printers, 3D printers with this type of 3D printhead, methods of driving this type of 3D printer and printed products formed by this type of 3D printer. - Google Patents

Description

3D printers, 3D printheads for use within this type of 3D printer, methods of driving this type of 3D printer, and printed products formed by this type of 3D printer are disclosed herein. As a printing material, this 3D printer is a granular, powdery or liquid plastic or a plastic system (thermoplast, epoxide, acrylate, polylactide, acrylic ester-styrol-acrylic nitrile, polymethylmethacrylate) which is divided into two or more. , Polyethylene (PE), Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or Glycol-modified polyethylene terephthalate (PETG), Polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), Acrylic nitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS), Polyvinyl butyral (PVB), polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polyamide (PA), polyimide (PI), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyethylene (PS), polyvinylphenol (PVP), polypropylene (PP), polycarbonate (PC) ) Or derivatives thereof), and also configured to process low melt metals or metal alloys. It is also possible to emit a liquid or light or heat sensitive plastic by the printhead disclosed herein and cure it by a light source or heat source associated with the printhead. In the 3D printer disclosed herein, the material properties (density [g / cm ³ ], E module [MPa], elongation [%], tensile strength [MPa], melting point [° C.], etc.) are adjusted in the print medium. Therefore, admixtures such as particles or fibers made of textile materials, glass, carbon, metals, etc. can be added. Details about it are defined in the claims; however, the specification and drawings include relevant statements about the structure of methods and equipment components, about functional methods, and about variations. There is.

U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0237631 relates to a warm supply system for 3D printers supplied with granules. Due to the difficulty in adjusting the heat transfer from the printhead to the granules to be fed, the granules may stick in the feed passage or feed worm of the printhead, causing the print material to be unevenly charged into the printhead. And flow out of the printhead, remaining non-uniform. This spoils the structure of the printed product. This is because the layers formed may have non-uniform layer thickness or undesired interruptions.

Other technical backgrounds are U.S. Pat. No. 5,656,230 (Khoshevis) and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2002/113331 (Zhang).

WO 2016/020150 (Stubenruss) relates to a granule particle / liquid regulator for a 3D printhead fed with granule particles and / or liquid. This system provides high quality printed products consisting of various materials and admixtures with extremely high accuracy and uniform layer thickness at high material discharge (volume of printed material per unit time). To that end, the 3D printheads disclosed therein have a chamber with a (bottom) surface, in which an outflow opening is provided. A spiral worm conveyor is located in the chamber, which feeds the print material to the outflow opening. The force generator pushes the spiral worm conveyor towards its surface, and the distance between the spiral worm conveyor and the surface is adjustable by the pressure of the printed material to be fed.

The relative rotation speed between the surface and the spiral worm conveyor can be adjusted according to the pressure of the printed material. This arrangement guides the granules or liquid through the supply passage into a chamber with a plate with an outflow opening. A molten or liquid print material obtained from granules or liquid can flow out through the outflow opening. The print material is again guided towards the outflow opening, or the print material is moved in the opposite direction to the outflow opening by the spiral worm conveyor rotating with respect to the plate, and the pressure of the print material. If is too high, the spiral worm conveyor will lift against the acting force, reducing the effectiveness of the spiral worm conveyor.

When processing printed materials in the form of granules or powders, or when using plastic liquids, the material also contains protective gas, chemical reaction gas (eg, in the case of multi-component plastic systems) supplied to the printed material. ), Air, and gas in the form of evaporated moisture. This gas can negatively compromise the uniformity of the printed material released and the associated quality of the printed product.

WO 97/1979 relates to a device for forming a three-dimensional substantive object by sequentially placing multiple layers of curable material on a support member according to a pattern. The device has a nozzle that feeds the extruded material, a pump with inlets and outlets, the outlets are fluidly connected to the nozzles, and a pressurized stream of curable material. It is supplied to the nozzle in a liquid state. A drive coupled with the pump gives the pump the ability to provide a variable pressure supply height and curable material flow rate to the nozzle. The pressure supply stage has an outlet connected to the inlet for supplying the curable material to the inlet of the pump in a liquid state and at a predetermined intermediate pressure. This intermediate pressure provides the inlet with a continuous amount of curable material to continuously drive the pump for all functional pressure supply heights and pump flow rates. Must be guaranteed. That is, an uninterrupted flow of curable material to and through the nozzle must be guaranteed. The curable material is fed as a solid to the pressure feeding stage. The pressure supply stage has a conduit for accommodating and heating the solid, thereby transitioning the solid to a liquid state of the curable material. The propulsion device moves the solid into a liquid state of the curable material into a conduit for supplying pressure to a predetermined intermediate pressure.

In this arrangement, the pressure supply is performed in at least two stages, especially to control gas generation. In WO 97/1979, it was recognized that many extruded materials release gas during their transfer by an extrusion molding machine. The slightly hygroscopic thermoplastic polymer liberates water vapor when heated to its melting temperature. Other free gases can be softeners, monomers and oxidation products. The gas in the pressure portion of the extruding machine reduces the pressure agility of the extruding machine. Therefore, in the arrangement of WO 97/19798, the volume of the extruded material under full pressure is kept as small as possible.

To that end, the pressure supply process carried out by the extrusion molding machine in WO 97/1979 is divided into two or more stages. In the arrangement of WO 97/19798, the gas generated in the first stage of the extrusion molding machine is separated at the outlet of the first stage at still relatively low pressure. In the modified example, the gas generated from the liquid extruded material in the preheater is separated from the extruded material in the connecting passage and extruded through a rotary seal provided at the inlet to the second pressure supply stage. Go out of the plane.

According to WO 97/19798, a conical viscous pump (see also US Pat. No. 5,31224) is provided as a second pressure supply step. Here, the liquid extrusion material is fed from the connecting passage to a rotating ejector, which is rotated by a variable speed motor within the sleeve, which causes the liquid extrusion material to direct to the nozzle and opening, and then It is pushed out from there. The first step prevents lining or cavitation at the inlet of the pump when the pump is used with a highly viscous extrusion material. The other second stage includes gear pumps, vibrating piston pumps, rotary slider pumps, single and double screw pumps and the like.

According to WO 97/1979, typical extruded material deposition rates are between 0.1 and 10 in ³ per hour (from 1.64 cm ³ to 164 cm ³ ).

U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0237631 U.S. Pat. No. 5,656,230 U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2002/113311 International Publication No. 2016/20150 International Publication No. 97/197998 U.S. Pat. No. 5,31224

The 3D print head must be able to process a print material having a certain high quality even if the print material has various qualities, a variable water content, a gas component, and the like.

To that end, the 3D printhead is provided with a worm conveyor having the functions and embodiments disclosed herein and defined in claim 1.

In particular the 3D printhead has a chamber, which is configured to obtain liquid or solid print material through the inlet, the chamber has an outflow opening on one side, and a spiral worm in the chamber. Conveyors are associated and the spiral worm conveyor is configured and driven to supply the outflow opening with the printed material that reaches the inside of the chamber from the inlet by combining the spiral worm conveyor with the drive. The device is configured to rotate the spiral worm conveyor away from and against the surface in the transfer direction of the spiral worm conveyor, the spiral worm conveyor having at least one transfer path and at least one unloading transfer. It has a path and the transfer path is configured to transfer the printed material to the exit area between the radially outer inlet area and the radially inner exit area. The transfer path is configured to transfer the printed material and the gas present therein away from the section of the radial inner edge zone of the transfer path.

In the 3D printhead presented herein, the material supplied into the chamber of the 3D printhead may contain gas or may form gas based on heating or chemical reaction. It is based on the recognition that. This gas may reach into the worm conveyor, where it may be surrounded by the walls of the worm conveyor and collect before it exits the outflow opening of the chamber. The gas inclusions can coalesce into one or more larger bubbles in the printed material in the worm conveyor. The volume flow of print material from the worm conveyor through the chamber outflow opening is relatively small during the 3D printing process. If this type of bubble in the print material reaches the area in front of the chamber outflow opening, the bubble interferes with the supply of the print material to the chamber outflow opening. The print process is disturbed. This is because, while the air bubbles remain in the area of the chamber outflow opening, less or no printing material passes through the outflow opening. In order to deal with this situation as efficiently as possible, the preferred embodiment presented here of the worm conveyor contributes to the worm conveyor not losing its transfer power as much as possible by allowing the gas inclusions to escape. The underlying perception of this is that the worm conveyor cannot feed or further in the direction of the chamber outflow opening where air bubbles are present in the transfer path. This impairs the material flow of the print material from the chamber outflow opening and, in extreme cases, ceases to function. The gas inclusions result in a very large pressure drop, which allows the worm conveyor to no longer lift from the chamber surface with the outflow opening. In the worst case, the material no longer flows out of the chamber outflow opening. It is extremely difficult for the 3D printhead controller to recognize or react to this obstacle. The printed product will have defective parts in this way and cannot be used.

The arrangement disclosed herein allows the spiral worm conveyor and chamber to rotate relative to each other so that the gas inclusions in the printed material are at least in the transfer path before it reaches the interior of the outlet area. It is possible to transfer away from the radial inner edge zone through the carry-out transfer path. That is, the spiral worm conveyor transfers predominantly gas-free print material into the exit region and from there to the chamber outflow opening. Therefore, interruptions in the material flow from the chamber outflow opening are effectively reduced or prevented.

The spiral worm conveyor has a substantially circular end face facing the surface of the chamber having the outflow opening in the variants of the 3D printhead disclosed herein. Alternatively or additionally, the end face has a center, the center of which is approximately aligned with the in-plane outflow opening of the chamber. Alternatively or additionally, the end face of the spiral worm conveyor is arranged approximately parallel to the surface of the chamber (at an angle of up to 30 °) and the outlet region located radially inside the spiral worm conveyor. , Directed to rotate at a distance from and in the vicinity of the outflow opening.

The spiral worm conveyor has an inlet region into the transfer path located radially outward in a variant of the 3D printhead arrangement disclosed herein, the inlet region in top view with respect to the end face. It is formed by lateral cuts having an almost circular fan shape. Alternatively or additionally, the spiral worm conveyor has, on the side of the inlet region away from the entrance of the transfer path, a terminal wall that defines the boundary of the transfer path and / or the carry-out transfer path. The outer end precedes the inner end in the direction of rotation (relative to the chamber) of the spiral worm conveyor in top view with respect to the end face. Alternatively or additionally, this wall guides the printed material guided in the transfer path to the exit area located in the center of the spiral worm conveyor. Alternatively or additionally, the wall extends inwardly over the carry-out transfer path. Alternatively or additionally, the wall also guides the printed material laterally below and / or into the unloading transfer path with respect to the unloading transfer path.

The spiral worm conveyor has an outlet region in a variant of the 3D printhead arrangement disclosed herein, the exit region being oriented at least approximately coaxially with the central longitudinal axis of the spiral worm conveyor. It also has a ring wall surrounding the exit area. The ring wall has an opening where the wall reaches the exit area from the transfer path. Alternatively or additionally, the openings are configured to allow the printed material to reach the centrally located exit area of the spiral worm conveyor from the transfer path through the transfer transfer path and through the opening. Has been done.

The spiral worm conveyor has a collar oriented at least substantially coaxially with respect to the axis of rotation on its peripheral surface in a modification of the arrangement of the 3D printhead disclosed herein, and the collar is radially outward. Demarcate the transfer path towards you. Alternatively or additionally, the collar has a free lower edge, which defines the boundary of the end face of the spiral worm conveyor towards the surface of the chamber with the outflow opening. Alternatively or additionally, the transfer path has a ceiling surface that extends at least partially around the central longitudinal axis of the worm conveyor. Alternatively or additionally, the ceiling surface of the transfer path defines the boundary of the transfer path on the side away from the surface of the chamber. Alternatively or additionally, the transfer path is at least partially open towards the surface of the chamber. Alternatively or additionally, the ceiling surface of the transfer path is oriented at an angle of up to 90 ° plus / minus 25 ° with respect to the axis of rotation of the spiral worm conveyor.

The spiral worm conveyor has a carry-out transfer path in a modification of the 3D printhead arrangement disclosed herein, the ceiling surface of which is from the end face of the spiral worm conveyor as compared to the ceiling surface of the transfer path. Located at a greater distance. Therefore, it becomes easy for the printed material having the enclosed gas to flow away from the outlet region. Alternatively or additionally, at least one section of the carry-out transfer path is arranged to be located further radially inward relative to the section of the transfer path. Alternatively or additionally, the carry-out transfer path and the outlet area are such that the carry-out transfer path provides the printed material with a first flow resistance and the outlet area provides the printed material with a second flow resistance. The dimensions are designed and configured so that the flow resistance is smaller than the second flow resistance. The magnitude of the second flow resistance in the outlet region is small enough to allow the printed material to flow into the outlet region towards the outflow opening when the spiral worm conveyor rotates relative to the chamber.

The spiral worm conveyor has at least one section of the transfer path in a variant of the 3D printhead arrangement disclosed herein, the section of which is at least partially circumferential to the spiral worm conveyor in the carry-out transfer path. Surrounded by. Alternatively or additionally, the carry-out transfer path surrounds the centrally located exit area of the spiral worm conveyor. Alternatively or additionally, the carry-out transfer path extends to or beyond the entrance of the transfer path in order to transfer the printed material and the encapsulated gas away from the carry-out transfer path. Alternatively or additionally, the carry-out transfer path has at least one opening in its ceiling surface along its extension, which allows the printed material and the enclosed gas to escape from the carry-out transfer path. It is configured to make it possible.

Alternatively or additionally, at least one section of the carry-out transfer path is arranged to be located further radially inward relative to the section of the transfer path. Therefore, at least the section of the transfer path can transfer more print material than the section of the carry-out transfer path. Therefore, the printed material flows from the section of the transfer path toward the exit area.

Alternatively or additionally, at least one section of the transfer path surrounds the carry-out transfer path at least partially in the circumferential direction of the spiral worm conveyor. In a variant, the carry-out transfer path surrounds an exit area located in the center of the spiral worm conveyor. Further, the carry-out transfer path may extend to the entrance of the transfer path in order to transfer the printed material and the enclosed gas away from the carry-out transfer path. The carry-out transfer path may have at least one opening in its ceiling surface along its extension, through which the print material and enclosed air can escape from the carry-out transfer path.

As another solution to the above-mentioned problems, a 3D printer having a 3D printhead having one or more of the above-mentioned features is proposed, the printhead having at least one accommodating portion for a printed product. Moved along a geometric axis, the 3D printer is associated with a controller, which uses at least one axis drive to move the 3D printhead relative to the containment. It is configured. Alternatively or additionally, a drive is provided to move the spiral worm conveyor relative to the chamber in order to control the printed material through the outflow opening and discharge it into the containment.

As another solution to the above problems, a method of driving a 3D printer with a 3D printhead has been proposed, the method having the following steps:
-Prepare a chamber, the chamber has an outflow opening on one side,
-Associate the chamber with a spiral worm conveyor
-Provide at least one transfer path and at least one carry-out transfer path on the spiral worm conveyor.
-Load the chamber with liquid or solid printing material and
-It causes the relative rotation of the spiral worm conveyor with respect to the chamber around the central longitudinal axis of the spiral worm conveyor, and the end face of the spiral worm conveyor is placed at a distance from the surface of the chamber.
-Use a transfer path to transfer the printed material from the radially outer inlet area to the radially inner exit area.
-Transfer the printed material, along with the gas present therein, away from at least one section of the radially outer edge zone of the outlet region.

This approach reduces or eliminates the risk of air bubbles in the printing material reaching the area in front of the outflow opening of the chamber with the printing material, where it interferes with the printing process. In the case of this type of failure, less or less print material will be released through the outflow opening. That is, the form of the worm conveyor contributes to the effective derivation of the gas inclusions so that the worm conveyor does not lose its transfer output as much as possible.

Alternatively or additionally, the relative rotation of the spiral worm conveyor to the chamber is at least radial of the outlet region before the spiral worm conveyor reaches the gas inclusions in the printed material into the interior of the outlet region. It is brought out from the outer edge zone into the carry-out transfer path. That is, the spiral worm conveyor transfers predominantly at least almost gas-free printed material into the interior of the outlet region and from there to the outflow opening of the chamber.

As another solution to the above-mentioned problems, a 3D printing product has been proposed, which is by a 3D printer equipped with a 3D printhead having one or more aspects of the above-mentioned apparatus and / or aspects of the above-mentioned method. It is obtained by a method having one or more of the above.

This type of print product or component formed by a 3D printer with a 3D printhead having one or more aspects of the above-mentioned device and / or by a method having one or more aspects of the above-mentioned method. Is clearly distinguishable from traditionally formed printed products or components. By reducing / blocking gas emissions from the outflow opening of the chamber, the printed product obtained here has much less (related) gas inclusions or no gas encapsulation compared to the printed product formed in the conventional way. I don't have it.

Within a conventionally formed printed product or component, for example, in the cross section of the component, gas inclusions are clearly visible between the individual layers of printing material. In the conventionally formed printed products or components, gaps are clearly seen in the transition of the layers of the printed material. Gas outflows from the outflow opening of the chamber are also directly recognizable within the resulting printed product. This type of outgassing into the printed product from the outflow opening of the chamber results in a dent / subsidence on the surface of the printed product, or an outgassing opens or closes as a material defect inside the printed product. Bring. Ultimately, this outgassing results in a significant reduction in the strength of the formed printed product.

Such a decrease in strength can also be demonstrated by non-destructive material testing, such as ultrasonography. Correcting such a proven defect later cannot be done without significant effort when the printed product is completed.

In addition, although the numerical range and the numerical value are disclosed in this specification, all the numerical values between the disclosed values and the numerical lower range within the above-mentioned range are referred to. , Also considered to be disclosed. It should be further noted that although the numbers for the ratios between the various dimensions of the components described here are given, each specific component of the type described here is not necessarily shown here. It is not necessary to achieve each ratio and all ratios between the various dimensions.

Other objectives, features, advantages and applicability will be apparent from the following description of some embodiments and accompanying drawings. All features described and / or shown in images form the subject disclosed herein, whether in themselves or in any combination, regardless of their grouping in the claims or their attribution.

FIG. 6 is a schematic side sectional view of a 3D printhead embodying the solution presented herein. It is a schematic top view which looked at the end face of a spiral worm conveyor in the direction of arrow A of FIG. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a 3D printer with a 3D printhead that embodies the solution presented herein. A photograph of a portion of a printed product formed by a conventional printing method is shown. The 3D printhead presented herein shows a photograph of a portion of a printed product formed according to the printing method presented herein.

The 3D printhead 100 shown in FIG. 1 has a cup-shaped chamber 110, which chamber is closed by a cover 112. The cover 112 has an inlet 114 to allow the liquid or solid print material DM to be supplied to the chamber 110. As the printing material for the printhead 100, granules, powdered or liquid plastics, or components of two or more separate plastic systems, and also low melting metals or metal alloys can be used. The cup-shaped chamber 110 and cover 112 are made of steel in the illustrated variants. However, other materials can also be used. The chamber 110 has an outflow opening 120 for the print material DM formed as a nozzle on the surface 116 (the bottom surface thereof in FIG. 1). A spiral worm conveyor 130 is arranged inside the chamber 110. The spiral worm conveyor 130 is used to supply the print material DM that has reached the chamber 110 through the inlet 114 to the outflow opening 120. Therefore, in the illustrated modification, the spiral worm conveyor 130 is coupled to the drive device 132. The drive device 132 rotates the spiral worm conveyor 130 with respect to the chamber 110 by the control device 200, whereby the spiral worm conveyor 130, or more precisely its lower end face 134 in FIG. 1, is the surface 116 of the chamber 110. It is configured to rotate at intervals from. This spacing varies from only a few 100 μm to a number (eg 2-5) depending on the type of print material DM, its viscosity and possibly its admixture (fibers, glass, carbon, metal or the like made of particles or textile materials). ) Mm. As soon as the print material DM is charged into the chamber 110 as granules or powder, a heat coil 138 at the bottom of the chamber 110 is used to melt the print material and adjust its viscosity, and its heating output. Is similarly controlled in a closed loop by the control device 200. Therefore, the temperature of the printed material DM in the chamber is detected and signaled to the control device 200 in a manner not shown in more detail.

When the drive device 132 rotates the spiral worm conveyor 130 with respect to the chamber 110 about the central longitudinal axis M of the spiral worm conveyor 130, the liquefied / liquefied printed material DM is located radially outwardly in the inlet region 140. The spiral worm conveyor 130 has at least one transfer path 136 for transfer towards the exit area between and radially inwardly located exit areas 142. Further, the spiral worm conveyor 130 has a carry-out transfer path 144, in which the drive device 132 rotates the spiral worm conveyor 130 with respect to the chamber 110 about the central longitudinal axis M of the spiral worm conveyor 130. When so, the print material DM is transferred together with the gas G present therein so as to be away from the radial inner edge zone 146 of the transfer path 136.

That is, the gas encapsulation G in the print material DM passes through the carry-out transfer path 144 from at least the radially inner edge zone 146 of the transfer path 136 before this type of gas inclusion G reaches the interior of the outlet region 142. It is carried out. That is, the spiral worm conveyor 130 transfers the print material DM, which is largely gas-free, into the interior of the outlet region 142 and from there to the chamber outflow opening 120.

As can be seen, the spiral worm conveyor 130 has a substantially circular end face 134 facing the face 116 of the chamber 110 having an outflow opening 120. The end face 134 has a center Z, the center of which substantially coincides with the outflow opening 120 in the face 116 of the chamber 110. The end faces 134 of the spiral worm conveyor 130 are arranged substantially parallel to the faces 116 of the chamber 110. The outlet region 142 located radially inside the spiral worm conveyor 130 rotates at a distance with respect to the outflow opening 120 of the chamber 110, and the center Z of the end face 134 and the outflow opening 120 of the chamber 110 are relative to each other. It is consistent.

An entrance area 140 into the transfer path 136 is arranged in front of the transfer path 136. The inlet region 140 is formed by a lateral cut that has a substantially circular fan shape in top view of the end face (see FIG. 2). On the side of the inlet region 140 away from the inlet 128 of the transfer path 136, the spiral worm conveyor 130 has a terminal wall 150 limiting the transfer path 136 and the carry-out transfer path 144. The outer end portion 152 of the wall 150 protrudes in front of the inner end portion 154 of the wall 150 in the rotational direction DR of the spiral worm conveyor 130 in the top view of the end face. The wall 150 guides the print material DM on the transfer path 136 towards the exit region 142 located within the center Z of the spiral worm conveyor 130 on a spiral section shaped route. The wall 150 extends inward toward the center Z beyond the carry-out transfer path 144. The wall 150 also guides the print material DM laterally below and / or into the carry-out transfer path 144, as indicated by the arrows P1 or P2.

The outlet region 142 located radially inside the spiral worm conveyor 130 is defined by a ring wall 148 that surrounds it and is oriented at least substantially coaxially with the central longitudinal axis M of the spiral worm conveyor 130. The ring wall 148 has an opening 160 at a point where the wall 150 reaches the exit region 142 from the transfer path 136. That is, when the spiral worm conveyor 130 rotates in the rotational direction DR with respect to the chamber 110, the printed material DM passes from the transfer path 136, through the carry-out transfer path 144, through the opening 160, and at the center of the spiral worm conveyor 130. The exit area 142 located at can be reached.

The spiral worm conveyor 130 has a collar 164 on its end face 134 facing the outflow opening 120, along its peripheral surface, oriented at least substantially coaxially with the central longitudinal axis M. Restricts the transfer path 136 outward in the radial direction. As shown in FIG. 1, the collar 164, the ring wall 148 and the wall 150 extend at the end face 134 of the spiral worm conveyor 130 at approximately equal distances in the direction of the face 116 of the chamber 110. To that end, the collar 164 has a lower free edge 166, the edge of which borders the end face 134 of the spiral worm conveyor 130 towards the face 116 of the chamber 110 having the outflow opening 120. ing.

Further, the transfer path 136 has a ceiling surface 168 extending at least partially around the central longitudinal axis M. This ceiling surface 168 of the transfer path 136 defines the boundary of the transfer path 136 on the side away from the surface 116 of the chamber 110. The transfer path 136 is open toward the surface 116 of the chamber 110 on the side facing the surface 116 of the chamber 110. The ceiling surface 168 of the transfer path 136 is oriented toward the center in the shape of the conical cut surface at an angle of about 120 ° with respect to the central longitudinal axis M of the spiral worm conveyor 130. In another modification, the ceiling surface 168 of the transfer path 136 is oriented at about 90 ° with respect to the central longitudinal axis M of the spiral worm conveyor 130. The ceiling surface 168 can also have a shape that gradually rises toward the central longitudinal axis M of the spiral worm conveyor 130.

The carry-out transfer path 144 includes a ceiling surface 170 located at a distance further from the end surface 134 of the spiral worm conveyor 130 with respect to the ceiling surface 168 of the transfer path 136. Further, the carry-out transfer path 144 is arranged in the spiral worm conveyor 130 in the radial direction further than the transfer path 136. The unloading transfer path 144 and the outlet area 142 are dimensionally designed and formed such that the unloading transfer path 144 provides a smaller flow resistance to the printed material DM as compared to the outlet area 142. The flow resistance of the outlet region 142 is also determined by the dimensions of the opening 160 and is sufficient for the print material DM to exit towards the outflow opening 120 when the spiral worm conveyor 130 rotates relative to the chamber 110. It is designed to be small in size so that it flows into the region 142. If the pressure in the print material DM between the spiral worm conveyor 130 and the surface 116 of the chamber 110 becomes too high and therefore too much print material DM becomes discharged through the outflow opening 120. The spiral worm conveyor 130 lifts away from the surface 116 of the chamber 110 against the urgency of the spring 190.

The transfer path 136 has the form of an annular section, and similarly surrounds the carry-out transfer path 144 in the shape of the annular section in the circumferential direction of the spiral worm conveyor 130. The carry-out transfer path 144 surrounds the substantially circular center of the spiral worm conveyor 130 and the exit area 142 therein. The carry-out transfer path 144 reaches from the opening 160 to the inlet 128 of the transfer path 136, where it communicates into the inlet area, thereby the print material DM and possibly the encapsulated gas. G is transferred through the carry-out transfer path 144 so as to move away from the radial inner edge zone 146 of the transfer path 136. The print material DM and the gas G enclosed therein flow in the direction opposite to the flow direction of the print material DM in the transfer path 136. The carry-out transfer path 144 has a plurality of openings 176 in its ceiling surface 170 along its extension in a similarly shown variant, through which the print material DM and the gas encapsulated therein. G can exit from the carry-out transfer path 144. That is, it is effectively prevented that the print material DM and the gas G contained therein can reach the inside of the outlet region 142 and the outflow opening 120.

In the 3D print head 100, only a small amount of the print material DM flows out from the outflow opening 120 in the print drive. Along with the print material DM, the air-type gas G, the inert gas charged into the 3D printhead 100, the water vapor flowing out of the print material DM, the softener, the monomer and the oxidation product are also transferred to the spiral worm conveyor 130. Reach within 136. A larger amount of print material DM is taken into the transfer path 136 of the spiral worm conveyor 130 than it flows out from the outflow opening 120. The arrangement of the carry-out transfer path 144 presented here, on the other hand, allows at least a portion of the extra amount of print material DM to be derived again before reaching into the exit area 142. Other portions of the extra amount of print material DM can exit radially outward from the transfer path 136 as the spiral worm conveyor 130 is controlled and lifted from the surface 116 of the chamber 110. On the other hand, by the arrangement of the carry-out transfer path 144 presented here, the gas G contained in the print material DM in an effective manner in cooperation with other components of the spiral worm conveyor 130 in the chamber 110. , Is blocked from reaching the exit area 142. Rather, the gas is again taken out of the spiral worm conveyor 130 along with the print material DM guided into the carry-out transfer path 144. Since the ceiling surface of the carry-out transfer path 144 is located at a distance farther from the surface 116 than the ceiling surface of the transfer path 136, the gas G contained in the print material DM exits from the transfer path 136. On that route inward into the region 142, it is possible to ascend into the carry-out transfer path 144. There, the enclosed gas G is transferred by countercurrent to the opening 170 in the ceiling surface of the carry-out transfer path 144 or to its end in the inlet region of the transfer path 136. That is, the enclosed gas G cannot impair the controlled outflow of the print material DM through the outflow opening 120. Rather, due to the form of the spiral worm conveyor 130, the spiral worm conveyor loses as little transfer output as possible by effectively escaping the gas inclusions, and especially this gas inclusions G in the print material DM is the outflow opening. It does not reach 120 and does not stain the printed product DE.

The 3D printer with the 3D printhead 100 presented herein, as shown in FIG. 3, has the 3D printhead on at least one geometric axis x with respect to the flat accommodating portion 300 for the print product DE. , Y, z to move. Therefore, the 3D printer has a control device 200, and the control device uses the respective axis drive devices XA, YA, and ZA to connect the 3D print head 100 and the accommodating unit 300. They move relative to each other and also operate the drive device 132 for the spiral worm conveyor 130 in the chamber 100, whereby the printed material is controlled from the outflow opening 120 and discharged to the containment unit 300. That is, a 3D printed product is obtained by a 3D printer with a 3D printhead and in the manner described herein.

A printed product or component of this type formed by one or more aspects of the above-mentioned apparatus and / or by one or more aspects of the above-mentioned method using a 3D printer with a 3D printhead. , As clearly recognized in FIGS. 4 and 5, are clearly distinguishable from conventionally formed printed products or components. In the two samples, a layer structure made of polycarbonate was observed, and in the printed product (FIG. 4) formed as in the conventional case, there are a large number of gas-filled portions AG located on the outside and a large number of gas-filled portions IG located on the inside. do. It is a printed product formed using a 3D printer with a 3D printhead by one or more aspects of the above-mentioned apparatus and / or by one or more aspects of the above-mentioned method. In FIG. 5), this is not the case. As a result of reducing / blocking outgassing from the chamber outflow opening, the printed product obtained here (FIG. 5) has much less outgassing or does not actually have (significant) outgassing.

The above-mentioned variations of the devices and methods are used only to better understand the structure, function and properties of the solutions presented; they do not limit the disclosure to the examples. The figure is schematic and some of the important properties and effects are shown in significant enlargement in order to clarify the function, principle of action, technical form and features. Each functional method, each principle, each technical form and each feature disclosed in the figure or text is with all claims, text and other features in the figure contained in or resulting from this disclosure. All possible combinations are in addition to the solutions described above, as they can be combined freely and arbitrarily. Also included are combinations within the text, ie within each section of the specification, within the claims, between all the individual forms and within the text, within the claims and between the individual variants in the figure. .. The details of the devices and methods mentioned above are shown as related; however, it should also be noted that they are independent of each other and can be freely combined with each other. The ratio of the individual parts shown in the figure and their sections to each other should not be considered limiting. Rather, the individual dimensions and ratios can differ from those shown. The claims also do not limit the possibility of combining the disclosure and all of the indicated features with respect to each other. All illustrated features, either alone or in combination with other features, are expressly disclosed herein.

100 3D printhead 110 cup-shaped chamber 112 cover 114 inlet DM liquid or solid print material 116 faces 120 outflow openings 128 inlets 130 spiral worm conveyors 132 drives 134 end faces 136 transfer paths 138 heat coils 140 inlet areas 142 exit areas 144 Carry-out transport path 146 Radial inner edge zone 150 Wall 152 Outer end of wall 150 154 Inner end of wall 150 148 Ring wall 160 Opening 164 Color 166 Free edge 168 Ceiling surface of transport path 136 170 Carry-out transport path 144 ceiling surface 190 spring 200 control device XA, YA, ZA axis drive device 300 accommodating part DM print material G gas inclusions M central longitudinal axis of spiral worm conveyor 130 DR spiral worm conveyor 130 rotation direction Z Center of spiral worm conveyor 130 P1, P2 Arrow DE Printed product AG Gas filling part located on the outside IG Gas filling part located on the inside

Claims (11)

3D print head (100)
-Having a chamber (110), said chamber is configured to obtain a liquid or solid print material (DM) through an inlet (114).
-The chamber (110) has an outflow opening (120) on one surface (116).
-A spiral worm conveyor (130) is associated with the chamber (110), and the spiral worm conveyor is such that the spiral worm conveyor (130) or the chamber (110) is coupled to a drive device (132). The printed material that has reached the inside of the chamber from the inlet is configured to be supplied to the outflow opening, and the driving device rotates the spiral worm conveyor or the chamber to form a spiral worm conveyor. It is configured to rotate with respect to the chamber at a distance from the surface of the chamber.
-The spiral worm conveyor
It has at least one transfer path (136), the transfer path between an inlet region (140) located radially outward and an outlet region (142) located radially inward. , Is configured to transport towards this exit area,
It has at least one carry-out transfer path (144), and the carry-out transfer path positions the printed material (DM) and the gas (G) enclosed therein in the radial inside of the transfer path (136). Arranged and configured to transport away from at least one section of the edge zone (146).
3D print head. The spiral worm conveyor and the chamber rotate as follows, i.e., relative to each other, at least in the radial direction of the transfer path, before the gas inclusions contained within the printed material reach the interior of the outlet region. It is configured to be unloaded from the inner edge zone through the carry-out transfer path, whereby the spiral worm conveyor moves the gas -free print material into the interior of the outlet area and. The 3D printhead according to claim 1, which is transferred from there to the outflow opening of the chamber. -The spiral worm conveyor has a circular end face facing the surface of the chamber having the outflow opening and / or.
-The end face has a center, the center aligns with the outflow opening in the plane of the chamber, and / or.
-The end face of the spiral worm conveyor is arranged parallel to the surface of the chamber, and the outlet region located radially inside the spiral worm conveyor is relative to the outflow opening. Oriented to rotate at a distance and in the vicinity of it,
The 3D print head according to claim 1 or 2. -The inlet region located radially outward into the transfer path is formed by lateral cuts having a circular fan shape in top view of the end face of the spiral worm conveyor and / or.
-On the side of the inlet region away from the inlet of the transfer path, the spiral worm conveyor has a terminal wall that defines the boundary of the transfer path and / or the carry-out transfer path, and the wall. The outer end of the spiral worm conveyor precedes and / or in the rotational direction of the spiral worm conveyor in top view of the end face of the spiral worm conveyor with respect to its inner end.
-This wall guides the printed material guided in the transfer path to the exit area located in the center of the end face of the spiral worm conveyor and / or.
-This wall extends inward over the carry-out transfer path and / or
-This wall also guides the printed material laterally below and / or into the unloading transfer path with respect to the unloading transfer path.
The 3D print head according to any one of claims 1 to 3. -The exit region has a ring wall that is oriented at least coaxially with the central longitudinal axis of the spiral worm conveyor and surrounds the outlet region.
-The ring wall has an opening at the point where the ring wall reaches the exit region from the transfer path and / or.
-The opening is configured so that the printed material can pass from the transfer path through the carry-out transfer path and through the opening to the outlet region located in the center of the spiral worm conveyor. ,
The 3D print head according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The end face of the spiral worm conveyor facing the outflow opening has a collar on its peripheral surface that is oriented at least coaxially with the central longitudinal axis of the spiral worm conveyor. The boundaries of the transfer path are defined outward in the radial direction and / or
-The collar has a free lower edge, which borders the end face of the spiral worm conveyor towards the face of the chamber with the outflow opening and / or.
-The transfer path has a ceiling surface that extends at least partially around the central longitudinal axis of the spiral worm conveyor and / or.
-The ceiling surface of the transfer path defines and / or demarcates the transfer path on the side of the chamber away from the surface.
-The transfer path is at least partially open towards the surface of the chamber and / or
-The ceiling surface of the transfer path is oriented at an angle of up to 90 ° plus / minus 25 ° with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the spiral worm conveyor.
The 3D print head according to any one of claims 1 to 5. -The carry-out transfer path is provided with a ceiling surface located at a distance farther from the end surface of the spiral worm conveyor with respect to the ceiling surface of the transfer path, and / or.
-At least one section of the carry-out transfer path is located further radially inward with respect to the section of the transfer path and / or.
-The carry-out transfer path and the outlet region are as follows, that is, the carry-out transfer path provides the printed material with a first flow resistance, and the outlet region provides the printed material with a second flow resistance. Dimensionally designed and configured to provide, the first flow resistance is smaller than the second flow resistance, and the magnitude of the second flow resistance in the outlet region is the spiral. Small enough to allow the printed material to flow into the outlet region towards the outflow opening when the worm conveyor rotates relative to the chamber.
The 3D print head according to any one of claims 1 to 6. -At least one section of the transfer path surrounds the carry-out transfer path at least partially in the circumferential direction of the spiral worm conveyor and / or.
-The carry-out transfer path surrounds and / or / or the exit area located in the center of the spiral worm conveyor.
-The carry-out transfer path extends to or beyond the entrance of the transfer path to transfer the printed material and the contained gas away from the carry-out transfer path and / or.
-The carry-out transfer path has at least one opening in its ceiling surface along its extension, which allows the print material and the contained gas to escape from the carry-out transfer path. It is configured to enable,
The 3D print head according to any one of claims 1 to 7. A 3D printer having the 3D printhead according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the 3D printhead has at least one geometric axis with respect to a housing for a printed product. The 3D printer is associated with a control device that moves the 3D printhead relative to the accommodating unit as follows, i.e., using at least one shaft drive device. And / or a 3D printer configured to manage the print material from the outflow opening to the chamber and discharge it to the containment section using the drive device for the spiral worm conveyor. A method of driving a 3D printer having the 3D printhead according to any one of claims 1 to 8, comprising the following steps:
-Prepare a chamber with an outflow opening on one side;
-Make the spiral worm conveyor correspond to the chamber,
-The spiral worm conveyor is provided with at least one transfer path and at least one carry-out transfer path.
-Load the chamber with liquid or solid printing material and
-Around the longitudinal central axis of the spiral worm conveyor, the relative rotation of the spiral worm conveyor with respect to the chamber is brought about, and the end faces of the spiral worm conveyor are arranged at intervals from the surface.
-Use the transfer path to transfer the print material between the radially outer inlet area and the radially inner exit area.
-Transfer the printed material, along with the gas present therein, away from at least one section of the radially outer edge zone of the outlet region.
How to drive a 3D printer. The relative rotation of the spiral worm conveyor with respect to the chamber is as follows, i.e., before the gas inclusions present in the print material reach the interior of the outlet region, this type of gas inclusions is at least the outlet. The spiral worm conveyor is brought away from the edge zone on the radial outer side of the region into the carry-out transfer path, so that the spiral worm conveyor allows the gas -free print material to be transferred inside the outlet region. 10. The method of claim 10, wherein the transfer is from there to the outflow opening of the chamber.

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